STAR is very saddened to hear the news of the passing of Gordon ‘Fred’ Neate. Fred served the club as a full back, with over 100 appearances, and then as groundsman for a total of 53 years. He was awarded a Football League long service award in 1996 and finally retired in in 2006. He was inducted into STAR’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
Fred was a local boy and always generous with his time with supporters, so long as they didn’t step on his carefully tended turf. He allowed the Supporters Club to take grass cuttings from Elm Park to sprinkle in the goal mouth of the Madejski Stadium on its opening day and would happily give fans a quick tour of Elm Park. We have lost a great friend and a true Reading club man through and through.
